WHAT THIS IS ABOUT

Facilities in the public right-of-way (including walkways, ramps, curb ramps and landings, crosswalks, and pedestrian overpasses and underpasses) must be designed, constructed and maintained to serve all users. To meet the needs of all users, those involved with designing, building and maintaining infrastructure need a clear understanding of the wide range of abilities that occur within the population and the challenges in the public right-of-way faced by persons with disabilities. This course will identify applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards pertaining to accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Requirements for ensuring accessibility in existing facilities versus work in new construction and alternations will be discussed. Design elements necessary for achieving accessibility in the public right-of-way will be reviewed. Best practices will be identified. A detailed handout will be provided, including resources on accessibility. Included in the session is an outdoor exercise involving manual wheelchairs, canes/blindfolds and low-vision goggles to allow participants to simulate the challenges faced by disabled persons in moving about the built environment.

Be prepared for outdoor activities (with
manual wheelchairs, blindfolds/canes and
low-vision goggles) during the second day.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The target audience for this workshop is local and state personnel with responsibility for designing, constructing and maintaining facilities in the public right-of-way. These include engineers, MPO staff, technicians, public works directors, street supervisors and crew leaders.

INSTRUCTORS

Ronald W. Eck P.E.

Ron is Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at West Virginia University and Senior Advisor with the West Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program (WV LTAP). He has been involved in traffic engineering, including pedestrian transportation, for over 35 years. He is a member of the Pedestrian Committee of the Transportation Research Board. He authored the chapter on Pedestrians in McGraw-Hill's Handbook of Transportation Engineering. He facilitates walkability audits and Walkable Communities Workshops for communities in West Virginia. For the past 4 years, he has taught one and one and one-half day "Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility" workshops throughout the United States.

Margaret Zeman Mahler

Margaret Mahler is the TDOT ADA/504 Coordinator.Margaret has been with the Tennessee Department
of Transportation since 1995. Margaret's duties encompass a variety of duties including technical
support to insure processes being carried out and conducted are within FHWA, American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable Federal statutory and technical regulatory requirements including Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG); accessibility requirements in all new construction and existing projects; interpret and advise Federal ADA and Section 504 requirements in all program activities such as planning, design, construction and maintenance. Along with her bachelors and master's degree, she holds a certification as an ADA Coordinator from the University of Missouri and is a FHWA approved instructor in ADA design.

PDHs AVAILABLE

10 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) can be granted for this course.

AGENDA

8:00 a.m.

Registration

8:30 a.m.

Workshop

REGISTRATION

TDOT employees must register through their local TDOT Training Office.A course may be canceled if there is low enrollment.Forty-eight hours notice will be given to registrants if a course is canceled.Register early! Limited enrollment.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Due to commitments to our instructors and facilities, the registration fee is not refundable if a registrant withdraws less than forty-eight hours before the workshop. You may substitute registrants; please notify us in advance if possible. Please register early as attendance to our workshops has increased. We may not accommodate walk-ins on the day of the workshop.